Inferno Theme of Wisdom and Knowledge

As the only species of all God’s children bestowed with a rational mind, humanity – according to Dante – is obligated to properly use its God-given gift responsibly. Dante calls this duty the "good of the intellect." All man’s works then should in some way be devoted to honoring nature or worshipping God. Indeed, Dante’s poem could be viewed as such a work, stemming from his own philosophy. Any works that deny God’s infallibility, pervert nature’s trends, or attempt to surpass man’s limits, are sinful. Man’s use of language is particularly subject to this "good of the intellect" ethos, since language is one of the primary expressions of man’s mind.

Questions About Wisdom and Knowledge

What, according to Dante, places man above his fellow animals? From whom did man receive this special gift and how should he use it?

How is language an expression of one’s intellect?

Consider each circle’s sin. How does each sin either disregard, deny, or blatantly misuse the human mind?

Consider both Virgil and Brunetto Latini as Dante’s mentors. How is Virgil’s teaching superior to Brunetto’s? What fundamentally wrong lesson does Brunetto teach Dante? Does Dante still believe it?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

Because fraud involves a deliberate misuse of man’s mind, it is considered the wickedest of sins.

Despite Brunetto’s generous character and Dante’s warm reaction to him, Brunetto makes a potentially dangerous assertion that man’s only chance at immortality is through the survival of his works; this inherently denies man’s immortal soul.